The ABA synthesis enzyme allele OsNCED2T promotes dryland adaptation in upland rice
Liyu Huang,
Yachong Bao,
Shiwen Qin,
Min Ning,
Qinyan Li,
Qingmao Li,
Shilai Zhang,
Guangfu Huang,
Jing Zhang,
Wensheng Wang,
Binying Fu,
Fengyi Hu
Affiliations
Liyu Huang
Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Innovation of Perennial Rice from Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, Yunnan, China; Corresponding authors.
Yachong Bao
Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Innovation of Perennial Rice from Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, Yunnan, China
Shiwen Qin
Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Innovation of Perennial Rice from Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, Yunnan, China
Min Ning
Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Innovation of Perennial Rice from Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, Yunnan, China
Qinyan Li
Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Innovation of Perennial Rice from Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, Yunnan, China
Qingmao Li
Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Innovation of Perennial Rice from Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, Yunnan, China
Shilai Zhang
Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Innovation of Perennial Rice from Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, Yunnan, China
Guangfu Huang
Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Innovation of Perennial Rice from Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, Yunnan, China
Jing Zhang
Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Innovation of Perennial Rice from Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, Yunnan, China
Wensheng Wang
National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Binying Fu
National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Fengyi Hu
Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Innovation of Perennial Rice from Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, Yunnan, China; Corresponding authors.
Upland rice shows dryland adaptation in the form of a deeper and denser root system and greater drought resistance than its counterpart, irrigated rice. Our previous study revealed a difference in the frequency of the OsNCED2 gene between upland and irrigated populations. A nonsynonymous mutation (C to T, from irrigated to upland rice) may have led to functional variation fixed by artificial selection, but the exact biological function in dryland adaptation is unclear. In this study, transgenic and association analysis indicated that the domesticated fixed mutation caused functional variation in OsNCED2, increasing ABA levels, root development, and drought tolerance in upland rice under dryland conditions. OsNCED2-overexpressing rice showed increased reactive oxygen species-scavenging abilities and transcription levels of many genes functioning in stress response and development that may regulate root development and drought tolerance. OsNCED2T-NILs showed a denser root system and drought resistance, promoting the yield of rice under dryland conditions. OsNCED2T may confer dryland adaptation in upland rice and may find use in breeding dryland-adapted, water-saving rice.
